Two from four may just have become three from four. If Wednesday, for Australia, was all about batsmen having time in the middle then on Thursday was trial time for the bowlers.

As Nathan Hauritz, the single spinner in the squad, struggled to deceive or exert control, the attraction of starting the Ashes with an all-pace attack must have grown.

Hauritz went wicketless in 18 overs costing 98 runs and Ricky Ponting, the captain, opted to turn to the Chinamen of Simon Katich late in the Sussex innings by way of an alternative. Hauritz must have had mixed emotions as Katich, who has 18 Test wickets at an average of less than 30, removed Ollie Rayner sweeping.

At times such as this cricket can be a peculiar game, because Australia have to remain united as a squad while players are competing with each other for places. Mitchell Johnson is certain to feature in the first npower Test starting 12 days hence, but all four of the pace bowlers on show here will feel qualified to join that attack.

None ruled themselves out yesterday, but none presented a definitive case, either. Peter Siddle, lively and strong, produced most in his first spell, while Stuart Clark improved strongly as the day wore on, locating a better line and securing two wickets in a fine spell after tea to give his figures a fairer indication of his performance.

Brett Lee was at his most hostile bowling downhill from the Cromwell Road End, but overstepped too often, while Ben Hilfenhaus, without swinging the ball as he can, ensured that the new ball did not go to waste. Like Clark, Hilfenhaus maintained a grip on the scoring, although Ponting did not call upon him for a third spell.

It would be something of a gamble if Australia omit a specialist spin bowler in Cardiff and try to fiddle through with Katich, Michael Clarke and Marcus North, especially if England pair Graeme Swann with either Monty Panesar or Adil Rashid. Yet Ponting may feel that there is little point in playing to anything but the strength of the squad.

Hauritz came closest to a wicket when Brad Haddin missed a stumping chance down the leg side with Andrew Hodd on 26. Otherwise, batsmen enjoyed a ready source of runs. Five overs before lunch cost 35, including a six over long-on by Rory Hamilton-Brown.

If some strokes were not exactly middled then neither did they produce chances. Haddin could reflect on a mixed day, holding a spectacular right-handed catch at shoulder height to give Siddle a second wicket in Carl Hopkinson after Ed Joyce fell hooking a ball that seemed to grow on him quicker than expected. Later on a hot afternoon, though, Haddin's glovework became untidy.

Chris Nash gave the innings a resolute start, but Hamilton-Brown and Luke Wright went at a brisker tempo, the latter still in Twenty20 mood, with 22 from 14 balls, before edging a drive to first slip. Wickets became harder to take once Hodd and Robin Martin-Jenkins adopted a more restrained tempo in a seventh-wicket stand of 86.

Hodd's was a brave effort, having been struck on the throat by Clark on one. Clark was the leading wicket-taker in the 2006-07 Ashes series and has an exceptional record of 90 wickets in his 22 Tests at an average of 22.96. His challenge is to convince Ponting of a full recovery from elbow surgery.

With 173 runs for the last five wickets, Sussex reduced the deficit to 38 on first innings. They beat Australia on average once per century - previous victories arriving in 1888 and 1972 - but those with tickets for the sell-out today may trade prospects of a third win for a couple of hours of Phillip Hughes at the crease.

Meanwhile, the England squad will be present at one of the main ceremonies to mark the first Armed Forces Day tomorrow. Association with military sacrifice mirrors the stop by the 2001 Australians at Gallipoli en route to England that Steve Waugh, then the captain, felt had a significant impact on building team spirit.

Australians: First Innings 349-7 dec (B J Haddin 69, Hauritz 65 not out, overnight 349-7)

Second Innings
P J Hughes not out 17
S M Katich not out 0
Extras (nb 1) 1
Total (no wkt, 7 overs) 18
Bowling: Kirtley 4-1-9-0; Sandri 2-0-9-0; Rayner 1-1-0-0.

Sussex: First Innings
*M H Yardy lbw b Hilfenhaus 5
C D Nash c Ponting b Clark 45
E C Joyce c Haddin b Siddle 15
C D Hopkinson c Haddin b Siddle 8
R J Hamilton-Brown b Lee 37
L J Wright c Clarke b Lee 22
A J Hodd c Clarke b Clark 40
R S C Martin-Jenkins c Haddin b Clark 35
O P Rayner lbw b Katich 25
W A T Beer not out 28
R J Kirtley b Lee 11
Extras (b 11, lb 7, nb 22) 40
Total (80.2 overs)311
P S E Sandri did not bat.
Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-36, 3-50, 4-109, 5-138, 6-151, 7-237, 8-244, 9-279.
Bowling: Lee 13.2-2-53-3; Hilfenhaus 11-3-31-1; Siddle 15-3-33-2; Clark 15-4-46-3; Hauritz 18-0-98-0; Katich 8-1-32-1.
Umpires: S J Malone and G Sharp.